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The Best Accessories to Upgrade Your Apple Watch

We’ve rounded up the best chargers, protective cases and accessories for your Apple Watch.

collage of two apple watch chargers and an apple watch with a case on it Courtesy

By Tucker Bowe

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The Apple Watch has been the most popular smartwatch since its advent in 2015. In fact, it’s been so popular that it hasn’t just been outselling every other smartwatch, but in 2019 the Apple Watch actually outsold the entire Swiss Watch industry, which includes manufacturers like Rolex, Swatch, TAG Heuer and Tissot. Naturally, with more Apple Watches out in the work, more people are looking for accessories — such as new bands, cases and chargers — to make their Apple Watch feel more personal. And boy, there’s a lot out there.

Products in the Guide

The good news is the Apple Watch hasn’t changed that much in the past years. It still looks mostly the same — except for the brand-new Apple Watch Ultra, for those who want Apple’s most rugged, feature-packed and expensive smartwatch — and charges basically the same way, for example. That said, there are really only two things to remember when shopping for an Apple Watch accessory.

First, the Apple Watch Series 4, Series 5, Series 6 and the SE all have the same size body, so the same case or protective screen will work with all of them. The outliers are the new Series 7 and the Series 8, which have a larger screen; and then there’s the Series 3 (which Apple just stopped selling in late 2022), which shares the very old design of the antiquated Series 1 and Series 2.

And second, if you’re shopping for a band, make sure to get the correct size. Almost every Apple Watch model comes in two sizes. The Series 4, Series 5, Series 6 and SE all come in either 40mm and 44mm sizes, while the new Series 7 and Series 8 comes in 41mm and 45mm. The Ultra only comes in 49mm size.

If you’re shopping for a watch band, the Series 7 and Series 8 are backward compatible for watch straps (meaning the 41mm model will work with older 40mm watch straps, and likewise for the 45mm model with 44mm watch straps). And the Apple Watch Ultra is compatible with the same watch bands as the 45mm Series 7 and Series 8.

More Apple Watch Guides/Reviews

For those who just want the most elegant charging dock that Apple itself makes— this is it. It comes with an extra USB to Lightning cable that plugs into and powers the charging dock.

This neat Apple Watch charger because it allows you to charge your smartwatch either flat or in Nightstand mode. It also can be linked with Scosche’s modular BaseLynx system for charging multiple other Apple devices. Available in black or white.

Belkin’s charger for the Apple Watch allows you to charge the smartwatch in either flat or Nightstand modes. It also is integrated with the newest architecture that allows you to charge the Apple Watch Series 7 and Series 8 33-percent faster. Available in white or black.

This is different from the standard Apple Watch puck in two key ways. Satechi’s option comes with a braided cable and has a thicker and more sturdier charging puck so that it better stays put on your desk’s surface.

The MagSafe Duo is Apple’s fancy 2-in-1 wireless charger that has a foldable design and can simultaneously charge any model of iPhone 12/13 and an Apple Watch. It’s expensive for what it is, admittedly, and it doesn’t come with a wall adapter, but it’s a great travel accessory for anybody with an Apple Watch and a new iPhone.

This is a nifty 2-in-1 charger for your Apple Watch and AirPods Pro (or AirPods with a wireless charging case). It plugs via USB-C into your MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iPad Pro or iPad Air, and then acts as a wireless charger. On one side is the Apple Watch charging puck. One the other is the AirPods Pro wireless charger. Unfortunately, you can’t charge the two devices simultaneously.

This is a versatile portable battery pack with a 10,000 mAh capacity. It has the capability to charge three devices simultaneously via the Apple Watch puck, a Qi wireless charging pad and USB-C or USB-A charging ports.

This accessory is ideal for anybody who has a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air (or really any other USB-C laptop). It plugs directly into the side USB-C port and adds a spot to charge your Apple Watch. No charging cable needed.

Released in 2022, this is a 3-in-1 wireless charger for your iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods (with wireless charging case. It’s fully compatible with MagSafe, so it supports 15-watt fast iPhone charging. And, while expensive, it comes with the necessary USB-C wall adapter to power all those devices (which is a rarity). It also folds up and comes with a fabric carrying case, making it a great travel accessory for Apple enthusiasts.

This is portable power bank that’s specifically designed for your Apple Watch. It’s tiny enough to easily fit in your pocket, but most importantly it’s capable of added up to 63 hours of juice to your Apple Watch.

This is 9,000mAh portable charger that comes with an integrated Lightning cable, so it’s designed to charge your iPhone or AirPods. The neat thing is that integrated into the body is an Apple Watch charging puck. This allows you to simultaneously charge multiple Apple devices. Available in either white or black.

These convenient little adapters allow you to use any traditional watch band that you already have with your Apple Watch. Available in silver or grey finishes.

Otterbox’s rugged case adds a level of protection (thanks to smooth bumper guards) that’s perfect for any outdoor enthusiasts. It’s available in a wide variety of different colors.

This extremely rugged case and watch strap is made of Thermoplastic polyurethane. It has a matte-finished body and carbon fiber details. It’s available in several colors and is compatible with the latest Apple Watch models.

This is a protective case and strap for your Apple Watch. It’s made of soft silicone, similar to many of silicone straps that Apple sells. Available in either blue or black.

apple watch accessoriesInvisible Shield

Invisible Shield GlassFusion+

Invisible Shield is probably the best known screen protection manufacturer and the GlassFusion+ is the perfect way to extra scratch resistance to your Apple Watch — especially if you have an aluminum model, which scratches the easiest.

The Nero adds a protective TPU bumper around your Apple Watch. It’s bespoke and easily snaps on to your Apple Watch. It’s available in two different colors: black and pink.

The ActionSleeve is a workout armband that your Apple Watch slips into, and then straps to your arm. It’s ideal for runners. It’s compatible with Series 4, 5, 6 and SE, but not the new Series 7.

The ActionBand is a traditional sweatband that can house your Apple Watch (compatible with Apple Watch Series 4, 5, 6 & SE, but not the Series 7). It’s ideal for athletes and workout enthusiasts. And yes, you can throw it in the wash with the rest of your dirty clothes.

The Spigen Thin Fit easily slips over your Apple Watch — Series 7 or Series 8 — adds bumper protection against scratches and dings without adding much bulk. It’s available in multiple different colors.

The Liquid Crystal case adds even more protection because, in addition to the bumper around the case, it also has clear screen cover to protect against scratches. Again, it’s very slim and barely adds any bulk to your Apple Watch.

The Impact case by Catalyst is a rugged case and band that adds military-grade drop protection without being super bulky. And the case doesn’t get in the way of the side button or rotating crown dial. It comes complete with a breathable sports band that buckles.

(Note: Catalyst makes a number of rugged Apple Watch cases. Check out its collection, here.)

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